vER. 11— 19. ST. LUKE. 587
human form. Now theselepersmust be so put away from
theChurch,thatbeing as farremoved as possible,they may
withloudshoutscallupon Christ.But by theircallingHim
Teacher,I think it is plainlyimplied that leprosyis truly
thefalsedoctrinewhich the good teachermay wash away.
Now we findthat of those upon whom our Lord bestowed
bodilymercies,not one did He send to the priests,save
thelepers,for the Jewish priesthoodwas a figureof that
priesthoodwhich is in the Church. All vices our Lord ,
correctsand heals by His own power working inwardly
inthe conscience,but the teachingof infusionby means
of the Sacrament, or of catechizingby word of mouth,
was assignedto the Church. And as theywent,they were
cleansed;just as the Gentilesto whom Peter came, having
notyetreceivedthe sacramentof Baptism,whereby we come
spirituallyto the priests,are declaredcleansedby the infu-
siouof the Holy Spirit.' Whoever then followstrue and
sounddoctrinein the fellowshipof the Church, proclaim
inghimselfto be freefrom the confusionof lies,as itwere
a leprosy,yet stillungratefulto his Cleanserdoes not pros
tratehimselfwith pious humilityof thanksgiving,is liketo
thoseof whom the Apostle says,that when they knew God Rum.1,21.
theyglorifiedHim not as God, nor were thankful. Such
thenwillremain in the ninth number as imperfect. For
thenineneed one,that by a certainform of unitythey may
be cemented together,in order to become ten. But he
who gave thanks was approved of as a type of the one only
Church. And sincethese were Jews, they are declaredto
have lostthrough pride the kingdom of heaven, wherein
mostof allunityis preserved. But the man who was a Sa
maritan,which is by interpretation" guardian,"givingback
to Him who gave it that which he had received,according
tothe Psalm, My strengthwillI preservefor thee,has kept Ps.59,9.
theunityof the kingdom with humble devotion. BEDE.
He fellupon his face,because he blusheswith shame when
lieremembers the evilshe had committed. And he iscom
manded to riseand walk,because he who, knowing hisown
weakness,lieslowlyon the ground,is led to advance by the
consolationof the divine word to mighty deeds. But if
faithmade him whole, who hurried himself back to give